Storage container for recorded media

ABSTRACT

A storage container for holding an item of recorded media includes a base; an outer wall extending upwardly from the base, the outer wall having an upper surface adapted to receive the lower surface of item adjacent the outer diameter of item. The storage container also includes a retaining hub that extends upwardly from the base. The retaining hub includes a plurality of hinged arms and fixed supports. A retaining lip is carried by the hinged arms. The retaining lip engages the upper surface of the item in a storage position and is moveable inwardly and downwardly to release item. Retaining lip also engages the lower surface of item to lift item from the storage container. The fixed supports include an upper surface that remains in position during the removal of item to provide support to item to substantially prevent bending forces from damaging item.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/746,958 filed Dec. 22, 2000, which is a continuation of U.S.Pat. No. 6,196,384 dated Mar. 6, 2001, which claimed priority fromprovisional application serial No. 60/080,363, filed Apr. 1, 1998; thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] This invention relates generally to storage containers forrecorded media and, more particularly, to a storage container having acentrally disposed retaining hub for engaging and selectively retainingan item of recorded media. Specifically, the present invention isdirected to a storage container for recorded media employing a retaininghub that releasably secures an item of recorded media such as a DVDwhile substantially protecting the stored item from bending stressescreated during loading, storage, and removal of the item from thestorage container

[0004] 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0005] Compact discs have become immensely popular in the past 15 yearsand have supplanted records and tapes as the dominant form of recordedmusic. Over this time, numerous storage containers have been developedto hold the discs during shipping, display for sale, and subsequent homestorage of the discs. Most of these storage containers utilize some typeof center hub that engages the center hole of the disc to hold the discin place in the storage container.

[0006] In the recent past, digital versatile discs (DVDs) have beendeveloped that hold more data than a compact disc. Given their largestorage capacity, DVDs may be used to hold feature length films as wellas music. It is also contemplated that the DVDs may be used to hold datain a computer readable form. One problem with the DVD is that itcurrently trades durability for its increased storage space. It has beenfound that a DVD may be damaged by the forces that are commonly, used toremove compact discs from their storage containers, to hold the compactdiscs in the storage containers, and to store the compact discs in thecontainers. Thus, a potential problem has been created in that it isbelieved that the vast number of consumers will treat a DVD like a CDbecause of the similarities in the products and will damage the DVD bydoing things that do not harm a CD. It is thus desired in the art toprovide a DVD storage container that prevents a consumer from damaging aDVD by improperly removing a DVD from, the container.

[0007] One of the chief areas of concern with a DVD storage container isthe bending forces created in the DVD by the container or removal of theDVD from the container. Although compact discs are relativelyinsensitive to bending stresses, DVDs are sensitive to such bendingforces and may lose information or become unusable because of suchbending forces. Bending forces may occur during removal of the DVD fromthe storage container, loading the DVD into the storage container, orstorage of the DVD in the container. The industry has thus moved in adirection that requires DVD storage containers to securely retain a DVDduring a drop test without creating a constant bending force on the DVDduring storage or allowing a bending force to be placed on the DVDduring installation or removal of the DVD from the storage container.

[0008] Although a DVD is approximately the same size, weight, anddimensions as a compact disc, the storage containers used for compactdiscs are generally unsuitable for providing a DVD storage containerthat eliminates bending forces. Most CD storage containers areunsuitable for DVDs because they include center hubs that radially andresiliently engage the center hole of a compact disc to retain thecompact disc in the storage container. It has been recently determinedthat such radial engagement creates a constant force on a DVD thateventually warps the DVD rendering it imperfect or unuseable. Othercompact disc storage containers allow a person to grasp the outer edgeof a compact disc and pull upwardly causing the disc to disengage thecenter hub. This action creates a significant amount of bending force inthe body of the compact disc. As compact discs are less sensitive tosuch bending force, this action does not substantially harm a compactdisc while it may break a DVD or otherwise render it unuseable.

[0009] One device that holds a CD in a manner that reduces the largebending forces experienced by the CD during removal of the CD from thestorage container is disclosed in German reference DE 3425579. Thisdevice retains the CD with a central hub having a lip. A plurality ofspring members are disposed about the central hub and are configured toresiliently engage the bottom surface of the CD when it is stored in thecontainer. The CD is thus trapped between the spring members and the lipduring storage. The CD is released by depressing the center button whichcollapses into the center hole of the CD. Once the lip of the hub ismoved inwardly, the spring members pop the CD up to a position where itmay be removed from the storage container.

[0010] Unfortunately, the spring members create a constant force on thebottom of the CD which creates a small constant bending force in the CD.Although this force is not large enough to damage a CD overtime, it islarge enough to slightly warp a DVD when the DVD is stored over longperiods of time. This slight warp may render the DVD unusable.

[0011] Other embodiments of a storage device disclosed in the Germanpatent utilize lever arms that lift the CD or DVD off of the retaininghub when the center button is depressed. Although these lifting arms areeffective for lifting the CD or DVD off of the hub, the center hub doesnot release the item of recorded media without creating bending forces.These embodiments are also more difficult to manufacture thanembodiments without lifting arms.

[0012] Another device that may be used to hold an item of recorded mediasuch as a compact disc is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 5,685,427. The devicein this patent allows a compact disc to be removed from the storagecontainer through the engagement of a ridge with the inner wall thatforms the central opening of the CD. In the storage position, the ridgerests on the top surface of the CD. When a person removes the CD fromthe container, the ridge is forced along the inner wall creating abending force in the CD. The specification describes that the force issignificant enough that there is a slight clicking action as the ridgepasses below the lower surface of the disc and grasps the disc. Thisdevice also captures the interior wall of the central opening in the CDwhile the CD is being removed from the holder. Such capturing creates anundesirable radially outward bending force in the CD or DVD while it isbeing removed from the holder.

[0013] In view of the damage created by the slight bending forces, theDVD industry has moved in the direction of requiring DVD storagecontainers to hold the DVDs without imparting any pending forces on theDVD. One manner of indicating that no bending forces are imparted on theDVD is by allowing the DVD to freely rotate while in the storageposition. The devices described above do not allow the CD or DVD tofreely rotate because the devices retain the CD or DVD with constantforces.

[0014] It is thus desirable to provide a storage container for recordedmedia such as a DVD that securely retains the item of recorded media inthe storage container while not subjecting the item to significantbending stresses that can damage the item.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In view of the foregoing, a primary objective of the presentinvention is to provide a storage container for an item of recordedmedia such as a DVD.

[0016] Another objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media that securely retainsthe item while not subjecting the item to bending forces during storage.

[0017] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media that allows the item ofrecorded media to be removed from the storage container withoutsubjecting the item to substantial bending forces.,

[0018] Still another objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded,media that prevents theimproper removal of the item of recorded media from the storagecontainer.

[0019] Another objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media that drops completelybelow the lower surface of the item and lifts the item from the storagecontainer from below without engaging the inner wall that forms thecentrally-disposed hole in the item.

[0020] A further objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media that allows the item ofrecorded media to be rotated within the storage container duringstorage.

[0021] Still a further objective of the present invention is to providea storage container for an item of recorded media that includes acollapsible center hub that may be used to lift the item of recordedmedia from a storage position into a removal position withoutsignificantly stressing the item of recorded media.

[0022] Yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media that includes aretaining hub having a plurality of fixed rigid supports that providesupport to the item of recorded media adjacent its center portion withthe storage container also having an annular outer ledge that providessupport to the item of recorded media adjacent its outer diameter.

[0023] Another objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media having rigid innersupports that do not engage the information-containing area of the itemof recorded media.

[0024] Another objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media that does not allow thecentral portion of the item of recorded media to be flexed downwardlyduring installation or removal of the item.

[0025] Another objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media having a retaining hubthat must be fully depressed and released prior to removing the item ofrecorded media from the storage container.

[0026] Another objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media having a plurality ofraised bumps that solely support the item of recorded media from belowto reduce friction between the storage container and the item ofrecorded media allowing the item of recorded media to rotate or spin inthe storage container.

[0027] Another objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media that includes acentrally disposed projection that retains the position of the item ofrecorded media when it is in a released position so that the item ofrecorded media does not slip off of the storage container.

[0028] A further objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media that is of simpleconstruction, which achieves the stated objectives in a simple,effective, and inexpensive manner, and which solves the problems andsatisfies the needs existing in the art.

[0029] These and other objectives and advantages are obtained by thestorage container for an item of recorded media of the presentinvention, the general nature of which may be stated as including thecombination of a disc-shaped item of recorded media having an uppersurface, a lower surface, a thickness, an outer diameter, and acentrally-disposed, substantially circular opening; and a storagecontainer for holding the item of recorded media; the storage containerhaving a base; a retaining hub extending upwardly from the base; theretaining hub having at least a first fixed support and at least oneretaining lip; at least one bump extending up from the first fixedsupport; and the item of recorded media being disposed between the atleast one bump and the at least one retaining lip.

[0030] Other objectives and advantages of the present invention areachieved by a storage container for an item of recorded media having anupper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, an outer diameter, and acentrally-disposed, substantially circular opening; the storagecontainer including a base; a retaining hub projecting up from the base;the retaining hub including at least three resilient arms cantileveredfrom the base and at least three fixed supports, one of the fixedsupports disposed between each pair of resilient arms; a retaining lipformed on each retaining arm, each retaining lip adapted to engage theupper surface of the item of recorded media; each of the three resilientarms being movable between first and second positions; each resilientarm adapted to support the lower surface of the item of recorded mediain the first position; each fixed support disposed at substantially thesame level as each resilient arm when the resilient arm is in the firstposition; and each resilient arm being disposed below each fixed supportwhen the resilient arm is in the second position.

[0031] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention areachieved by a method for removing an item of recorded media from astorage container; the item of recorded media having acentrally-disposed, substantially circular opening; the storagecontainer having a retaining hub that includes a plurality of resilientarms and a plurality of fixed supports; the resilient arms disposed inthe opening of the item of recorded media to retain the item of recordedmedia on the retaining hub; the method including the steps of depressingthe arms to release the item of recorded media; supporting the item ofrecorded media adjacent the opening with the fixed supports to preventthe center of the item of recorded media from deflecting when the armsare depressed; releasing the arms; lifting the item of recorded mediaoff of the fixed supports with the arms; and removing the lifted item ofrecorded media from the arms.

[0032] Another objective of the present invention is to provide astorage container for an item of recorded media that includes a methodfor removing an item of recorded media from a storage container; theitem of recorded media having a centrally-disposed, substantiallycircular opening; the storage container having a retaining hub thatincludes a plurality of resilient arms connected by a center button; theresilient arms disposed in the opening of the item of recorded media toretain the item of recorded media on the retaining hub; the methodincluding the steps of depressing the center button causing the arms tomove radially inward and down; releasing the center button allowing thearms to lift the item of recorded media.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of thebest mode in which the applicant has contemplated applying theprinciples of the invention, are set forth in the following descriptionand are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctlypointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

[0034]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a storage container for an item ofrecorded media depicted in an open position;

[0035]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0036]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the retaining hub encircled by theline labeled FIG. 3 in FIG. 1;

[0037]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showingthe retaining hub in a first position with the item of recorded mediaretained by the storage container;

[0038]FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 depicting theretaining hub in a second position;

[0039]FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 depicting theretaining hub back in the first position with the item of recorded mediabeing released by the storage container;

[0040]FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the portion of the retaining hubencircled in FIG. 2;

[0041]FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the hinged arms depressedbelow the lower surface of the base wall.

[0042]FIG. 9 is a sectional view depicting an alternative embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0043] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] An embodiment of the storage container for an item of recordedmedia made in accordance with the concepts of the present invention isdepicted in the accompanying drawings and is indicated generally by thenumeral 10. Storage container 10 includes a base, indicated generally bythe numeral 12, that is hingedly attached to a lid 14. In the embodimentof the present invention depicted in the drawings, the hinged connectionbetween base 12 and lid 14 is formed by a back wall 16 and a pair ofcontinuous living hinges 18. Base 12 includes a side wall 20 thatextends about the three sides of base 12 not attached to living hinge18. Side wall 20 includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 22 that serveto reinforce storage container 10 and may also be used to frictionallyengage corresponding reinforcing ribs 24 that are carried by lid 14 anda lid side wall 26. Container 10 may be fabricated from any of a widevariety of materials but it is preferred that it be fabricated from aplastic strong enough to resist breaking when dropped during a droptest.

[0045] As may be seen in FIG. 2, an item of recorded media 30 may besecurely retained by storage container 10 through the engagement of aretaining hub 32 with item 30. Item 30 may be a DVD but it is to beunderstood that container 10 may be used to store other items 30 such ascompact discs containing music or computer readable data. As will bedescribed in detail below, retaining hub 32 securely retains items 30 instorage container 10 without creating bending forces in item 30 duringloading of item 30 onto retaining hub 32, during storage of item 30 incontainer 10 as depicted in FIG. 2, or during removal of item 30 fromstorage case 10. By providing such functions without creating bendingforces in item 30, storage container 10 achieves one of the primaryobjectives of the present invention. Although container 10 depicted inFIG. 1 only includes a single retaining hub 32, it is to be understoodthat multiple retaining hubs 32 may be provided in similar containers tohold multiple items 30.

[0046] Base 12 includes a substantially planar base wall 40 that extendsbetween retaining hub 32 and sidewall 20 of base 12. An annular outerwall 42 extends upwardly from base wall 40 below the outer edge of item30. As may be perhaps best seen in FIG. 1, annular outer wall 42 extendsentirely about the area where item 30 is received and is substantiallycircular in shape. Annular outer wall 42 has an upper surface 44 uponwhich the lower surface 46 of item 30 rests when item 30 is in thestorage position depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4. Annular outer wall 42 issized and configured such that the contact between upper surface 44 andlower surface 46 does not extend into the area of item 30 that includesrecorded information. A chamfer 43 may be provided to create a smoothtransition between surface 44 and the sidewall of wall 42. Annular outerwall 42 prevents the outer portion of item 30 from being moved lowerthan upper surface 44.

[0047] Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 9 with analternative outer wall 42. Outer wall 42 of this embodiment includes aplurality of bumps 41 that extend upwardly from surface 44 such thatitem 30 is only supported on bumps 41. This arrangement reduces frictionbetween item 30 and wall 42. This embodiment functions substantiallysimilarly to the embodiment described in detail below with the exceptionthat the upper surface of bumps 41 is on the same plane as the uppersurface of bumps 95.

[0048] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, ablocking wall 48 extends upwardly from upper surface 44 of outer wall 42radially outside the outer radial dimension: of item 30. Blocking wall48 is positioned such that it does not contact item 30 when item 30 isretaining by hub 32. Blocking wall 48 has a height that is greater thanthe thickness of item 30 as indicated by the dimension line labeled withnumeral 49 such that a person cannot grasp the edge of item 30 when item30 is in the storage position depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4. There are,however, two finger holes 50 formed in base 12 where the height ofblocking wall 48 is reduced. Although finger holes 50 are not intendedto allow a person to grasp the edge of item 30, finger holes 50 allow aperson to more easily grasp item 30 when it is in the released positiondepicted in FIG. 6. Blocking wall 48 achieves one of the objectives ofthe present invention by preventing a person from grasping an edge ofitem 30 and pulling upwardly. Such a practice is common when removing acompact disc from a compact disc storage container. If performed on aDVD held in storage container 10, retaining hub 32 would maintain itsengagement with the DVD and the upward force at its edge would likelybreak or otherwise damage the DVD by creating a large bending force. Itmay thus be understood that annular outer wall 42 and blocking wall 48prevent the removal of item 30 without first removing item 30 fromretaining hub 32.

[0049] As noted above, storage container 10 includes retaining hub 32that extends upwardly from base wall 40. Retaining hub 32 is configuredto retain item 30 until it is subjected to a downward force which issubsequently released. The downward force causes hub 32 to collapseinwardly and downwardly to completely release item 30. When the force isremoved, hub 32 contacts the bottom of item 30 and lifts it into theposition depicted in FIG. 6 where it may be removed. Retaining hub 32 isalso configured to retain item 30 in a manner such that it may freelyrotate on hub 32 in the storage condition depicted in FIG. 4.

[0050] Retaining hub 32 includes a center button 60 that issubstantially circular and includes a downwardly extending,circumferential, substantially cylindrical side wall 62 that has anupper end 64 and a lower end 66. Center button 60 preferably is domed toextend upwardly to provide an easy target for a person using storagecase 10. A plurality of hinged arms, each indicated generally by thenumeral 70, moveably support center button 60 a distance above the planeof base wall 40. Arms 70 and button 60 thus form a continuous elementfrom one side of hub 32 to another. It may thus be understood that acavity 72 is formed below hinged arms 70 and hub 32. Cavity 72 providesspace that allows retaining hub 32 to be moved between the storageposition depicted in FIG. 4 and the collapsed position depicted in FIG.5.

[0051] Each of hinged arms 70 extends upwardly from base wall 40 toengage item 30 and support center button 60. Each hinged arm 70 includesa first arm section 80 having a first end 82 and a second end 84. Firstend 82 of first arm section 80 is connected to base wall 40 by a firsthinge 86. Hinge 86 may be in the form of a living hinge as depicted inthe drawings. A hinge 86 is provided with a scalloped portion 87 thatdecreases the thickness of hinge 86 allowing it to flex or bend moreeasily. Second end 84 of first arm section 80 is attached to a first end88 of a second arm section 90 by a second hinge 92. Second hinge 92 mayalso be a living hinge. Second arm section 90 may be substantiallyparallel to base wall 40 when retaining hub 32 is the first positiondepicted in FIGS. 4 and 6. Second arm section 90 includes an uppersurface 94 that is slightly below -upper surface 44 of annular outerwall 42 but is substantially parallel to upper surface 44 and lowersurface 46 of item 30. In the preferred embodiment of the invention,upper surface 94 is approximately 0.02 inches below the plane of uppersurface 44 and lower surface 46 of item 30. A bump 95 projects upwardlyfrom each upper surface 94 to a level substantially equal to the levelof upper surface 44 of outer wall 42 to engage lower surface 46 of item30. First arm section 80 is angled upwardly from base wall 40 and secondarm section 90 is sized such that bump 95 of second arm section 90 doesnot contact the area of recorded information on lower surface 46 of item30. Bumps 95 minimize the contact between item 30 and arm 70 allowingitem 30 to spin on hub 32 with little friction.

[0052] Second arm section 90 has a second end 96 that is connected to afirst end 98 of a third arm section 100 by a third hinge 102. Second end96 of second arm section 90 is cut out with an opening 103 thatsubstantially decreases the thickness of third hinge 102 to allow it toflex more easily. Opening 103 also increases the manufacturability ofhub 32 and decreases the amount of material used to fabricate hub 32.Thus, third hinge 102 is a pair of relatively thin hinges that connectsecond arm section 90 to third arm section 100 on either side of opening103 as seen in FIG. 3. Third hinge 102 may also be a living hinge. Thirdarm section 100 includes an outer surface 104 that has a radius ofcurvature that is less than the radius of curvature of inner wall 106 ofitem of recorded media 30. Thus, it may be understood that item 30 isnot radially resiliently engaged by arms 70 to retain item 30 on hub 32.As may be perhaps best seen in FIG. 2, outer surfaces 104 of arms 70cooperate to form a substantially continuous cylindrical wall 160 thatis disposed within the centrally-disposed hole 162 of item 30. Wall 160is only broken by a plurality of slots 164 that separate third armssections 100 from each other. Each slot 164 branches out at the bottomof third arm sections 100 to form two secondary slots 166 that definethe widths of hinged arms 70. Secondary slots 166 are disposed such thateach first arm section 80 and each second arm section 90 has asubstantially constant overall width.

[0053] Third arm section 100 is substantially normal to base wall 40 inthe first position depicted in FIGS. 4 and 6. A retaining lip 110 iscarried by third arm section 100 at the second end 112 of third armsection 100. Retaining lip 110 is adapted to engage at least a portionof the upper surface 114 of item 30 to retain item 30 on retaining hub32 even when container 10 is turned upside down or subjected to impactforces.

[0054] Second end 112 of third arm section 100 is attached to a firstend 120 of a fourth arm section 122,by a fourth hinge 124. Fourth hinge124 may also be a living hinge. Second end 112 of third arm section 100projects upwardly through projection 125 to provide a retaining deviceto hub 32 that maintains the position of item 30 when item 30 is in thereleased position sitting on the upper surface of retaining lip 110.-Projections 125 are disposed inwardly of retaining lip 110 such thattheir, outer surfaces have a radius no greater than outer surfaces 104of arms 70. Second end 126 of fourth arm section 122 is connected tolower end 66 of side wall 62 by a fifth hinge 128. Fifth hinge 128 mayalso be a living hinge and is substantially thinner than the otherhinges as shown in the drawings. The thinness of first hinge 86 andfifth hinge 128 allows them to bend much more easily than the otherhinges 92, 102, and 124 when hub 32 is subjected to a downward force.

[0055] Retaining hub 32 also includes a plurality of fixed supports 140disposed between hinged arms 70 in accordance with another aspect of thepresent invention. Each fixed support 140 is separated from hinged arms70 by secondary slots 166. Each fixed support 140 includes a firstsupport section 142 that extends upwardly from base wall 40 atsubstantially the same angle as first arm section 80. First supportsection 142 includes a first end 144 attached to base wall 40 and asecond end 146 attached to a first end 148 of a second support section150. Second support section 150 is disposed substantially parallel tobase wall 40 and includes an upper surface 152. Fixed supports 140 aresized such that upper surface 152 of each second support section 150 issubstantially coplanar with upper surface 94 of second arm section 90.As discussed above with respect to hinged arms 70, each second supportsection 150 is sized and shaped so that it does not engage item 30 in anarea containing recorded information.

[0056] Each second support section 150 includes one bump 95 that issubstantially similar to bumps 95 on arms 70. Bumps 95 on second supportsection 150 provide constant support adjacent the center of item 30 sothat item 30 is not damaged during removal of item 30 from hub 32. Bumps95 on second support section 150 prevent the center of item 30 frombeing deflected downwardly. Gussets 154 are provided beneath each fixedsupport to provide additional support if needed.

[0057] Each fixed support 140 is non-moveable and remains in positionwhen hinged arms 70 function to release item 30 by collapsing inwardlyand downwardly. By remaining in position, fixed supports 140 providesupport to item 30 adjacent its center once bumps 95 on arms 70 arelowered.

[0058] An item 30 of recorded media is depicted in FIG. 4 in the storageposition with retaining hub 32 in the first position. While in thestorage position, item 30 may not be removed from storage container 10without either depressing retaining hub 32 or significantly damagingitem 30 or container 10. Item 30 is supported from below by uppersurface 44 of outer wall 42 and bumps 95 of arms 70. Item 30 issupported from above by retaining lip 110. Item 30 is not, however,supported in any way through engagement of outer surfaces 104 of thirdarm sections 100 with item 30. As such, there is no radial resilientforce between outer wall 104 of third arm section 100 and item 30.

[0059] When a person wants to remove item 30 from storage container 10,the person creates a downward force on center button 60 causing hingedarms 70 to collapse inwardly and downwardly causing lip 110 to disengageupper surface 114 of item 30. This also causes bumps 95 on arms 70 tomove downwardly and disengage item 30 leaving item 30 to be supported bybumps 95 on second support sections 150.

[0060] As may be seen in FIG. 5, the downward force causes fifth hinge128 to close drawing retaining lip 110 radially inwardly. The downwardforce also causes first hinge 86, second hinge 92, and third hinge 102to open allowing center button to move down drawing retaining lip 110down with it. The person removing item 30 continues to apply thedownward force until retaining lip 110 is below lower surface 46 of item30. As shown in FIG. 5, second arm section 90 is angularly disposed withrespect to the plane of base wall 40 at this time. Third arm section 100is also pulled inwardly at an angle and is no longer normal to the planeof base wall 40. Furthermore, first arm section 80 has been moveddownwardly and is no longer disposed at the same angle as first supportsection 142.

[0061] The person removing item 30 then releases the downward force oncenter button 60 allowing retaining lip 110 to contact lower surface 46.Hub 32 is configured to not capture the inner edge of the center hole ofitem 30. Such action creates a warping force in item 30 as arms 70 pressradially outwardly on item 30 from inside its center opening. Arms 70are thus designed to engage the bottom surface 46 of item 30 and liftitem 30 vertically upwardly with no warping forces. As hinged arms 70return to the first position of retaining hub 32, lip 110 lifts item 30off of upper surface 44 of annular outer wall 42 and bumps 95 of fixedsupports 140 allowing the person to grasp the outer edge 170 of item 30and remove it from storage container 10. Item 30 is retained byprojections 125 prior to removal by the person.

[0062] Hub 32 is also configured to retain item 30 on projections 125even when item 30 is loosely retained as shown in FIG. 6. A right-handedperson will typically hold storage container 10 in the left hand whilepushing center button 60 with a finger of the right hand. In thisposition, hinges 18 are usually in the left palm and one of arms 70 isdisposed straight up, parallel to hinges 18, so that item 30 does notreadily fall off if container 10 is tilted.

[0063] It may thus be understood that no bending forces are experiencedby item 30 during removal of item 30 from storage container 10. Bendingforces are prevented because item 30 is supported during the collapse ofarms 70 about its radial outer edge and its radial inner edge by uppersurface 44 and bumps 95. Upper surface 44 and bumps 95 also preventdamaging bending forces when item 30 is replaced onto retaining hub 32.Item 30 is replaced by aligning its center hole with retaining lip 110and providing a downward force on item 30. The downward force causesretaining lip 110 to move downwardly and inwardly allowing item 30 tocontact bumps 95. When such contact is made, the downward force isremoved and retaining lip 110 is moved back to the storage position byhinged arms 70 where it engages upper surface 114 of item 30.

[0064] Hub 32 is also configured such that arms 70 may pass below thelower surface 156 of wall 40 as shown in FIG. 8. Arms 70 may pass belowlower surface 156 because no rigid surfaces are disposed below cavity72. Only a card 158 containing information and a clear, flexible layer160 are disposed below cavity 72. Layer 160 is loose enough to allowarms 70 to move card 158 out of the way such that arms 70 may fullycollapse. This provides extra room for arms 70 to collapse duringremoval of item 30 for container 10.

[0065] Accordingly, the improved storage container for recorded media issimplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficientdevice which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides foreliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solvesproblems and obtains new results in the art.

[0066] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used forbrevity, clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitationsare to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art,because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended tobe broadly construed.

[0067] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is byway of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to theexact details shown or described.

[0068] Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles ofthe invention, the manner in which the storage container for recordedmedia is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction,and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and usefulstructures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations areset forth in the appended claims.

1. A storage container for storing a disc-shaped item of recorded media;the disc-shaped item of recorded media having an upper surface, a lowersurface, a thickness, an outer diameter, and a centrally-disposedopening; the storage container comprising: a base; a retaining hubextending upwardly from the base; the retaining hub being adapted toengage the centrally-disposed opening of the item of recorded media; theretaining hub having at least two bumps adapted to engage the lowersurface of the disc-shaped item of recorded media; the bumps adapted tominimize the friction between the hub and the disc-shaped item ofrecorded media; the at least two bumps being spaced apart andindependent from each other; and the at least two bumps being fixed withrespect to the hub.
 2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein thebump does not extend around the retaining lip.
 3. The storage containerof claim 2, wherein the bump is dome-shaped.
 4. The storage container ofclaim 1, wherein the hub includes a support surface disposedsubstantially parallel to the base; the at least two bumps projectingupwardly from the support surface.
 5. The storage container of claim 4,wherein the hub includes at least one resilient arm; the retaining lipbeing carried by the arm.
 6. The storage container of claim 1, whereinthe hub includes three bumps.
 7. The storage container of claim 6,wherein the three bumps are spaced apart and independent.
 8. The storagecontainer of claim 7, wherein the three bumps are evenly spaced aboutthe hub.
 9. The storage container of claim 1, wherein each bump has abody having a lower surface and an upper surface; the body convergingfrom the lower surface toward the upper surface.
 10. The storagecontainer of claim 1, further comprising an outer wall disposed radiallyoutwardly of the hub.
 11. The storage container of claim 10, wherein theouter wall includes a support surface.
 12. The storage container ofclaim 11, wherein the outer wall includes at least one bump projectingupwardly from the support surface of the outer wall; the bump projectingupwardly from the support surface being adapted to engage the lowersurface of the disc-shaped item of recorded media.
 13. The storagecontainer of claim 1, wherein the retaining hub includes at least oneretaining lip adapted to engage the upper surface of the disc-shapeditem of recorded media; the retaining lip adapted to hold thedisc-shaped item of recorded media on the hub.
 14. The storage containerof claim 13, further comprising a lid movable between opening and closedpositions; the lid and base surrounding the retaining hub when the lidis in the closed position.
 15. The storage container of claim 14,wherein the retaining hub is a push button-type hub adapted to releasethe disc-shaped item of recorded media when the hub is depressed. 16.The storage container of claim 13, wherein the retaining hub isconfigured to loosely receive the disc-shaped item of recorded mediasuch that the disc-shaped item of recorded media may spin on theretaining hub.
 17. The storage container of claim 13, wherein theretaining lip has a lower surface and each bump has an upper surface;there being a first vertical distance between the lower surface of theretaining lip and the upper surface of the bump; the first verticaldistance being adapted to be larger than the thickness of thedisc-shaped item of recorded media such that the disc-shaped item ofrecorded media is not pinched.
 18. A storage container for storing adisc-shaped item of recorded media; the disc-shaped item of recordedmedia having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, an outercircumferential edge, and a centrally-disposed opening; the storagecontainer comprising: a base; a retaining hub extending upwardly fromthe base; the retaining hub being adapted to engage thecentrally-disposed opening of the item of recorded media; the basehaving at least two bumps adapted to engage the lower surface of thedisc-shaped item of recorded media; the bumps adapted to minimize thefriction between the base and the disc-shaped item of recorded media;the at least two bumps being spaced apart and independent from eachother; and the at least two bumps being fixed with respect to the hub.19. The storage container of claim 18, further comprising at least twobumps carried by the base in a location where the at least two bumps areadapted to engage the lower surface of the item of recorded mediaadjacent the outer circumferential edge of the disc-shaped item ofrecorded media.